WBIW.com News - state

(UNDATED) - Cracker Barrel is back-tracking a decision to remove Duck Dynasty items off its shelves, saying customers were largely critical of the move.

The restaurant chain announced its plans to remove certain Duck Dynasty products after controversial anti-gay comments made by cast member Phil Robertson in an interview with GQ.

In that interview, Robertson appeared to suggest that homosexuality would lead to bestiality, and said that both were sinful.

"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there," he said. "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.

On Sunday, Cracker Barrel said it had reversed its decision.

"When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers," the company wrote. "Our intent was to avoid offending, but that's just what we've done."

"You flat out told us we were wrong," Cracker Barrel continued. "We listened."

The restaurant also released a statement on its Facebook page saying the ideals of "fairness, mutual respect and equal treatment of all people" are core to its corporate culture.

Cracker Barrel customers weren't the only ones voicing support for Robertson. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said the show is important to the state's tourism, and that he would help connect the family with new producers if they cannot reach an agreement with A&E.

The Robertsons are Louisiana natives, and Duck Dynasty has spurred tourists' interest in the state after seeing record-breaking numbers as the most-watched nonfiction cable series in history.

On the flip side, gay rights advocate group GLAAD has called Robertson's statements "some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication."

The future of the show was in limbo Sunday after the Robertson family released a statement threatening to walk away from A&E.

"We cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm," the family said.